5th District race: Perriello claims victory, Goode won’t concede

4:14 p.m.

Updated vote totals from State Board of Elections’ website still show Perriello with a 745 vote lead:

Perriello - 158,703

Goode - 157,958

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3:30 p.m.

From Scott Leamon, in Martinsville:

Tom Perriello held a news conference to thank campaign workers in Martinsville, and to declare victory in the 5th District House race.

However, Perriello stopped short of calling for Congressman Virgil Goode to concede.

Perriello said he would keep his promise to “work a double shift” to bring more jobs to Southside, and begin that work immediately.

Latest vote totals from the State Board of Elections’ website shows Perriello ahead by 745 votes:

Perriello - 158,703

Goode - 157,958
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2:33 p.m.

Perriello’s lead expands.  The State Board of Elections’ website shows him leading Goode by 750 votes.

Perriello - 158,701

Goode - 157,951

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1:50 p.m.

Congressman Virgil Goode just wrapped up a news conference.  He says he will not concede, but will not make a decision about asking for a recount until the election is certified on November 24th.

Goode says he believes the final vote totals will be within the 1% margin.  He adds that he has staff watching the updated vote totals everyday.

Perriello’s lead increased by nearly 100 votes.  The State Board of Elections’ website shows:

Perriello - 158,664

Goode - 157,917

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12:22 p.m.

Goode cuts the lead by one vote.  The State Board of Elections’ website shows Perriello leading Goode by 647 votes as of noon.

Perriello - 158,561

Goode - 157,914

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Updated Friday 6:20 a.m.

The State Board of Elections shows Tom Perriello holding onto his lead of 648 votes ahead of incumbant Virgil Goode.

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Updated 9:43 p.m.

The State Board of Elections now shows Tom Perriello leading Virgil Goode by 648 votes.

Perriello: 158,562
Goode: 157,914

Updated 7:20 p.m.
Statement released by Virgil Goode:

“Any declarations of winners and losers in this race is premature. This contest is undeniably close, the vote totals have greatly varied back and forth since election night, and the official counting process is still ongoing. It is important that we take the time for a fair and thorough process to ensure that every legitimate vote is counted. We remain optimistic that we will prevail when this process is completed.“

Updated 6:29 p.m.

Goode gains another vote.  The State Board of Elections’ website shows Perriello leading Goode by 638 votes.

Perriello - 158,537

Goode - 157,899

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Updated 5:50 p.m.

Perriello’s lead has widened slighty.  The State Board of Elections’ website shows Perriello leading Goode by 639 votes.

Perriello - 158,534

Goode - 157,895

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Updated 4:38 p.m.

Another vote added for Goode.  Latest from State Board of Elections’ website show Perriello up by 631:

Perriello - 158,525

Goode - 157,894

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Updated 4:05 p.m.

Goode slices a bit more into Perriello’s lead.  The State Board of Elections’s website shows Goode now trailing by 632 votes

Perriello - 158,518

Goode - 157,886

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Updated 3:45 p.m.

Goode has cut into Perriello’s lead again.  The State Board of Elections’s website shows Goode now trailing by 634 votes.

Perriello - 158,514

Goode - 157,880

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Updated 3:32 p.m.

The Perriello campaign issued this statement from communications director Jessica Barba:

“As we’ve said all along, we feel confident that Tom Perriello will be declared the winner in this race. Our win margin has been growing wider as the results have been coming in from the official vote tally and now it appears that we now have a substantial lead in the race. It’s clear that the fifth district is eager for a change in leadership to stabilize the economy, achieve energy independence, and correct our course in Iraq and Afghanistan. Perriello will deliver that leadership.“

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Updated 3:15 p.m.

The State Board of Elections website shows Perriello lost two votes since the last update.  That brings Perriello’s lead to 832 votes.

Perriello - 158,514

Goode - 157,682

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Updated 3:06 p.m.

The State Board of Elections website shows Goode lost two votes since the last update.  That brings Perriello’s lead to 834 votes.

Perriello - 158,516

Goode - 157,682

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Updated 2:26 p.m.

Another lead increase for Perriello.  He now leads Goode by 832 votes, according to the State Board of Elections’ website.

Perriello - 158,516

Goode - 157,684

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Updated 2:20 p.m.

Perriello has seen a surge in votes in the past eight minutes.  He now leads Goode by 814 votes, according to the State Board of Elections website.

Perriello - 158,516

Goode - 157,702

The Board’s website shows absentee ballots added for both men, as well as updated totals from Gladys.

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Updated 2:12 p.m.

New totals shrink Perriello’s lead down to 29 votes, accorrding to the State Board of Elections’ website.

Perriello - 157,521

Goode - 157,492

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Updated 1:58 p.m.

New totals shrink Perriello’s lead down to 30 votes, accorrding to the State Board of Elections’ website.

Perriello - 157,521

Goode - 157,491

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Updated 12:24 p.m.

Perriello’s lead has increased to 53 votes, according to the State Board of Elections’ website.

Perriello - 157,460

Goode - 157, 407

Our Charlottesville newsroom, the Daily Progress, reports more votes may soon be added to Perriello’s tally, according to numbers posted on the blog of Charlottesville Electoral Board Chairman Rick Sincere.

Sincere wrote that Wednesday’s vote canvass in Charlottesville found that Perriello had received 15,754 votes on Tuesday and Goode received 3,715.

The State Board of Elections has not yet updated its Charlottesville tally with the changes, showing the city with 15,089 votes for Perriello and 3,592 for Goode.

If accurate, Charlottesville’s count would add 665 votes for Perriello and 123 votes for Goode, handing Perriello a net gain of 542. 

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Updated 11:36 a.m.

The State Board of Elections website shows Perriello has increased his lead over Goode.

New vote totals as of 11:30 a.m.

Perriello - 157,457

Goode - 157,405

Goode lost 20 votes due to an error in the Twin Springs precinct, according to the Board’s website.  Provisional ballots are still being counted, and additional canvassing is going on.

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Updated Thursday 1:29 a.m.

The State Board of Election reports Perriello holding a 31 vote lead against Goode.

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Updated 5:02 p.m.

The State Board of Elections’ website shows Perriello with a 31 vote lead as of 5:00 p.m.

Perriello - 157,456

Goode - 157,425

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Updated 3:17 p.m.

Tom Perriello has retaken the lead, according to the State Board of Elections’ website.

As of 3:17 p.m.:

Perriello - 157,455

Goode - 157,425

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Updated 2:26 p.m.

Virgil Goode’s lead shrinks to just six votes, according to the State Board of Elections’ website:

Goode - 157,421

Perriello - 157,415

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Updated 2:20 p.m.

New vote totals in from State Board of Elections website shows Goode’s leading shrinking.

As of 2:20 p.m.:

Goode - 157,419; 49.99%

Perriello - 157,309; 49.95%

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Updated 1:57 p.m

Jessica Barba, communications director for the Perriello campaign, issued the following statement:

“We are clearly seeing a very close election with vote totals from different counties changing rapidly, and Tom Perriello remains confident that when everyone’s vote is counted he will win this election and move ahead with his agenda for economic revival in the fifth district. Right now, our focus is on making sure every single vote is counted and every single voice is heard. The results need to be certified and there are provisional ballots that need to be considered. We are confident that people in the fifth district want change and that we are going to be successful in this election in the end.“

As of 1:57 p.m., the State Board of Elections website still shows the vote totals as:

Goode - 157,421; 49.99%

Perriello - 157,277; 49.95%

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Updated 12:21 a.m.

By Lindsey Ward
WSLS Reporter

Congressman Virgil Goode says he’s confident he’ll pull away with a win.

The 5th District Republican Incumbent told reporters in a conference call Wednesday morning he expects to the numbers to shift back and forth through out the day, but add up in his favor by the end.

When asked if there would be a recount Goode said he was unsure, but a few minutes later told reporters it’s quite possible for lawyers to get involved.

Goode says there are questions surrounding provisional ballots, specifically if voters provided proper identification and if they were voting in the correct place.

For the remainder of the day he will be in and out of the campaign office in Rocky Mount, checking on the latest count.

Updated 11:52 a.m.

The State Board of Elections website shows new vote totals, with Congressman Goode winning with all precincts reporting, but a smaller margin of victory.

As of 11:52 a.m.

Goode - 157,421; 49.99%

Perriello - 157,275; 49.94%

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Updated 10:44 a.m.

The State Board of Elections website shows Congressman Goode winning with all precincts reporting.

The vote totals are:

Goode - 157,421; 50.04%
Perriello - 156,975; 49.90%

That is within the standards set by the State Board of Elections for a taxpayer paid for recount.

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Updated Wednesday 9:24 a.m.

Statement from Virgil Goode:
“With all but one reliably Republican precinct reporting, the State Board of Elections is reporting that I am leading my opponent by more than 300 votes.  We have scrubbed the numbers and confirmed them with local officials and I am confident that after today’s canvassing by the individual registrars’ office this lead will be sustained.  It has been a long, hard-fought campaign and I feel good about where we are right now.“

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Updated Wednesday 8:31 a.m.

Virgil Goode pulls ahead of Tom Perriello.

The State Board of Elections reports that Goode has 157,070 votes, to Perriello’s 156,768.

Goode is now ahead by 302 votes.

There is still on precinct left to report.

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Updated Wednesday 8:21 a.m.

The gap between Virgil Goode and Tom Perriello is shrinking.

The State Board of Elections reports that Goode has 155,292 votes, to Perriello’s 155,536. Perriello is only ahead by 244 votes.

There is still on precinct left to report.

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Updated Wednesday 7:33 a.m.

In the 5th Congressional District, incumbent Virgil H. Goode Jr. is trailing challenger Tom Perriello Wednesday morning, with one precinct left to report.

The State Board of Elections reports that Goode has 154,579 votes, to Perriello’s 156,236. Results still are not in for Lunenburg County.

The 5th District is mostly Southside. Goode is seeking his seventh term.

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Political newcomer Tom Perriello and Rep. Virgil Goode finished the night in a dead heat Tuesday in a 5th District election so close its outcome might not be known until election officials review provisional ballots today.

At least two news organizations — CNN and the Associated Press — called Goode the winner early in the night, but backed off those assessments after late returns put the candidates neck-and-neck.

Perriello, a Democrat, and Goode each had about 150,000 votes in a district that, until Tuesday, had given Goode at least 59 percent of its votes in the last six elections.

Perriello, an Albemarle County native, drew his strongest support from the northern part of the district, and also got 58 percent of the vote in Danville, a city that had always given Goode comfortable margins. Perriello also carried Martinsville, where Goode usually does well.

Nelson County, which had given Goode small majorities in his last two elections against Democrat Al Weed, joined Albemarle County and Charlottesville in backing Perriello.

Goode won most of the rural Southside counties that have given him big margins in the past, including Appomattox, Campbell and Bedford counties.

Perriello, a 34-year-old Democrat, had raised $1.5 million to match Goode’s fundraising in a race characterized by attack TV ads, many of them funded by groups outside the 5th District.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee kicked in at least $300,000 of TV advertising aimed at Goode’s record on energy legislation, while a Midwestern group called Our Rural America targeted Goode with ads criticizing his votes on the veterans’ benefits bill and health care.

Goode, in debates and TV ads, presented Perriello as a New York lawyer who opposed drilling for oil in America and also as an opponent of the proposed federal marriage amendment.

Goode also criticized Perriello’s fundraising from New York financiers and other out-of-state sources.

Perriello, in turn, criticized Goode as depending on corporate lobbyists for his campaign financing.

Goode also weathered a storm of publicity about his name appearing in the credits of an art house movie, “Eden’s Curve.” The film about homosexuality was released in 2004 by a Danville filmmaker.

Goode, who opposes special rights for homosexuals, denied knowing anything about the film or why its producer, Jerry Meador of Danville, listed him in the credits.

In a broadcast debate from a Martinsville cable TV station on Monday night, Goode was in full attack mode, describing Perriello’s campaign contributions from New York financier George Soros and claiming that Perriello had accepted lobbyist funds himself.